Welcome to LLR's Website

The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) mission is to promote the health, safety and economic well-being of the public through regulation, licensing, enforcement, training and education. Director Richele Taylor

South Carolina Labor Programs

South Carolina and federal laws are the source of various rights employers and employees have in their employer/employee relationships. LLR is one of several state and federal agencies, which administers the laws assuring these rights. Occupational safety, payment of wages, child labor, migrant labor and mediation of disputes between unions and businesses all fall under LLR. Elevators and amusement rides also are regulated to assure the public's safety. Learn more about Labor Programs

South Carolina Building Codes Council

New Federal Appliance Manufacturing Standards

The US Department of Energy (DOE) issued new manufacturing standards, effective January 23, 2006, for residential central air-conditioners and heat pumps. The new standards preempt conflicting requirements in the 2003 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

The effect of the new standards will be to require all residential central air-conditioners and heat pumps manufactured on or after January 23, 2006, to have an increased minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and a minimum Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). Equipment manufactured in compliance with the 2003 edition of the IECC prior to January 23, 2006, however, can still be sold and installed until the stock is depleted.

The Building Codes Council will not have the opportunity to modify the IECC until it reviews the 2006 edition for adoption. Since compliance of the new standards will be at the manufacturing level, the impact, on code enforcement officers and builders during that interim period should be minimal, if any at all. The conflicting requirements in the IECC will be in Table 503.2 as illustrated below. The words in bold type represent the amended language.

For SI: British thermal unit per hour = 0.2931 W.
a. For multicapacity equipment, the minimum performances shall apply to each capacity step provided. Multicapacity refers to manufacturer-published ratings for more than one capacity mode allowed by the product's controls,
b. This is used to be consistent with the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) of 1987 (Public Law 100-12), as amended.
c. These requirements apply to combination units not covered by NAECA (three-phase power or cooling capacity 65,000 Btu/h).
d. Except for gas-fired steam boilers for which the minimum AFUE shall be 75%.
e. Seasonal rating.
f. Heat pumps manufactured before January 23, 2006 may have a HSPF of 6.8 for split systems and 6.7 for single package units, and air conditioners manufactured before January 23, 2006 may have a SEER of 10 for split systems and 9.7 for single package units. Trade-offs between equipment and other building components are not allowed for equipment that does not exceed the minimum in this table.
g. These requirements apply to through-the-wall products with cooling capacities less or equal to 30,000 Btu/h manufactured prior to January 23, 2010.